4- Chronic escitalopram in healthy volunteers has specific effects on reinforcement sensitivity: a double-blind, placebo-controlled semi-randomised study (Not Finished)

Source: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36683090/

Correct Answer: B. To examine the effects of chronic escitalopram on reinforcement sensitivity in healthy volunteers

Explanation: The abstract clearly states that the study aimed to investigate how chronic escitalopram affects reinforcement sensitivity in healthy volunteers, not clinical populations or comparative treatments

What was the primary aim of the study?

A. To evaluate escitalopram as a treatment for major depressive disorder
B. To examine the effects of chronic escitalopram on reinforcement sensitivity in healthy volunteers
C. To compare escitalopram with other SSRIs
D. To study withdrawal effects of escitalopram

Correct Answer: C. Experimental clinical research

Explanation: The study involves manipulation of an independent variable (escitalopram vs placebo) under controlled conditions, which defines it as experimental research

What type of research does this study represent?

A. Qualitative exploratory research
B. Observational cohort study
C. Experimental clinical research
D. Case study research

Correct Answer: B. Double-blind, placebo-controlled, semi-randomised study

Explanation: The title and methodology explicitly describe the design as double-blind, placebo-controlled, and semi-randomised

Which phrase best describes the research design used?

A. Open-label randomized trial
B. Double-blind, placebo-controlled, semi-randomised study
C. Cross-sectional survey
D. Longitudinal observational study

Correct Answer: B. To eliminate researcher and participant bias

Explanation: Double-blinding ensures that neither participants nor researchers know group allocation, reducing expectancy and assessment bias

Why was a double-blind design used?

A. To reduce participant dropout
B. To eliminate researcher and participant bias
C. To shorten the study duration
D. To increase the sample size

Correct Answer: C. Healthy adult volunteers

Explanation: The study explicitly recruited healthy volunteers, not clinical populations, which is central to interpreting the findings

Who were the participants in this study?

A. Patients diagnosed with anxiety disorders
B. Patients with major depressive disorder
C. Healthy adult volunteers
D. Elderly participants with cognitive decline

Correct Answer: C. Administration of escitalopram versus placebo

Explanation: The manipulated variable was whether participants received chronic escitalopram or placebo. Also, the article was published in American college of neuropsychopharmacology journal.

What was the independent variable in this study?

A. Level of depressive symptoms
B. Type of reinforcement task
C. Administration of escitalopram versus placebo
D. Participant age

Correct Answer: B. Reinforcement sensitivity and related behavioral responses

Explanation: The core outcome focused on reinforcement sensitivity, aligning with the study’s theoretical framework

Which outcome was primarily measured?

A. Cognitive intelligence scores
B. Reinforcement sensitivity and related behavioral responses
C. Sleep quality
D. Blood serotonin levels

Correct Answer: B. Administration over an extended period

Explanation: “Chronic” refers to repeated administration over time, allowing assessment of longer-term effects rather than acute responses

What does “chronic” administration mean in this context?

A. A single high dose
B. Administration over an extended period
C. Administration only during testing
D. Lifetime exposure

Correct Answer: C. Escitalopram selectively altered reinforcement sensitivity

Explanation: Results showed specific effects on reinforcement sensitivity, rather than global behavioral changes or null effects

What was one of the main findings of the study?

A. Escitalopram increased sensitivity to punishment only
B. Escitalopram had no measurable behavioral effects
C. Escitalopram selectively altered reinforcement sensitivity
D. Escitalopram caused severe adverse effects

Correct Answer: B. As evidence that SSRIs influence emotional processing mechanisms

Explanation: The discussion links findings to theoretical models of emotional and reinforcement processing, not clinical efficacy claims

How did the authors interpret these findings?

A. As evidence that escitalopram cures mood disorders
B. As evidence that SSRIs influence emotional processing mechanisms
C. As proof escitalopram is unsafe for healthy people
D. As unrelated to existing antidepressant theories

Correct Answer: B. Small sample size and use of healthy volunteers

Explanation: Using healthy volunteers limits generalizability to clinical populations, a common and acknowledged limitation

Which limitation is implicit in the study design?

A. Lack of any control group
B. Small sample size and use of healthy volunteers
C. Absence of behavioral measures
D. No ethical approval

Correct Answer: C. Chronic escitalopram influences reinforcement-related processing in healthy adults

Explanation: The conclusion is carefully framed around reinforcement processing effects, without overgeneralization or treatment claims

What can be concluded appropriately from this study?

A. Escitalopram should be prescribed to all healthy individuals
B. Escitalopram has no effect on human behavior
C. Chronic escitalopram influences reinforcement-related processing in healthy adults
D. Escitalopram is superior to all antidepressants

Correct Answer: C. Methodology

Explanation: The Methodology section details participants, design, procedures, and measures

Which section of the article explains how the study was conducted?

A. Abstract
B. Introduction
C. Methodology
D. Conclusion

Correct Answer: C. An original empirical research article

Explanation: The paper reports original data collected and analyzed by the authors, fitting empirical research criteria

From a metadata perspective, this article is best classified as:

A. A narrative review
B. A meta-analysis
C. An original empirical research article
D. A case report

Correct Answer: B. To isolate drug effects from psychopathology

Explanation: The abstract implies that using healthy participants allows examination of drug effects on reinforcement sensitivity without confounding effects of mental illness

According to the abstract, why were healthy volunteers used in this study?

A. To reduce medication side effects
B. To isolate drug effects from psychopathology
C. To increase recruitment speed
D. To test long-term clinical efficacy

Correct Answer: C. A clearly described methodology and statistical analysis

Explanation: Peer-reviewed journals require transparent methodology and formal statistical reporting, both of which are clearly present in the article. Also, the article was published in American college of neuropsychopharmacology journal.

Which feature most strongly indicates that the article was published in a peer-reviewed journal?

A. The presence of tables and figures
B. The use of technical language
C. A clearly described methodology and statistical analysis
D. The length of the article

Correct Answer: D. A statement of guaranteed correctness

Explanation: Peer review does not guarantee absolute correctness; it ensures methodological and scholarly scrutiny. The other options are consistent with peer-reviewed publication standards. Also, the article was published in American college of neuropsychopharmacology journal.

Which of the following is NOT evidence, by itself, that the article is peer reviewed?

A. Double-blind, placebo-controlled design
B. Inclusion of a reference list
C. Clear abstract and conclusion
D. A statement of guaranteed correctness

Correct Answer: B. As a peer-reviewed journal article

Explanation: The article meets all criteria for a peer-reviewed journal article, making this the correct classification for academic citation. Also, the article was published in American college of neuropsychopharmacology journal.

From an academic metadata perspective, how should this source be cited?

A. As grey literature
B. As a peer-reviewed journal article
C. As an unpublished manuscript
D. As a textbook chapter